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Tournament Rules

Tournament Rules

USASA Region 1 Indoor Soccer Championship

Rules (5 vs. 5)

Spirit of the Game: Perpetual Motion 5 vs. 5 Indoor Soccer Leagues rely upon a spirit of sportsmanship. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the soccer field. Actions such as taunting opposing players, dangerous aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions or other "win-at-all costs" behavior, are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

1. Equipment/Score Sheets:

Each team should bring both light and dark-colored shirts to each and every game, as well as a water bottle.

It is required that players wear shin guards.

Only the regulation ball provided by the tournament may be used for the games.

Players are only allowed to wear indoor or turf shoes and they must be clean of any dirt.

Braces (i.e. knee braces) are allowed provided that they are adequately covered and padded. This is to eliminate the possibility of it causing injury to the other players on the field.

Please do not wear jewelry or sunglasses.

If a ball hits the ceiling or any object, it is considered a dead ball and the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from where the ball hit.

2. Game Time/Default:

Please arrive 30 minutes early to warm up and to start your games on time.

Games are 25 minutes long or as indicated by tournament schedule

A default will occur if any team cannot field a squad 10 minutes after the official start time.

Teams are comprised of 4 players and a goalie.

A team can play with a minimum of 3 players and a goalie. The opposing team captain may waive the minimum player requirement AND have the results of the match COUNT towards the standings. Agreeing that the results of the match COUNT must be made clear prior to the start of play by the team captains. Agreeing to play does not infer that the match counts unless this is explicitly decided by the opposing team captain.

The kickoff starts with all players on their own side of the field. The ball is stationary at the center point of the field. The opponents of the team taking the kickoff should be at least 7 paces away from the ball until it is put into play.

The ball is put into play when it is kicked forward and moves completely into the opposing team's end. The initial kicker cannot touch it again until another player has contacted it. If the initial kicker touches the ball before it is touched by another player, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

You cannot score a goal directly from the kick off.

4. Scoring:

The ball must completely cross the goal line between the goalposts and under the crossbar to count as a goal.

A goal is disallowed if the goalkeeper of the attacking team throws or hits the ball intentionally with his hand or arm from inside his own penalty area and is the last player to touch or play the ball. The restart is a goal kick for the opposing Team

Games in the tournament can end in a tie. In the playoffs, if a game is tied at the end of regulation time, a "shoot-out" will take place. The four players on the field when the whistle blows will each take a shot from the yellow dot. If the score is still tied after 4 shots each, then the teams will redo the shots in any order until the tie is broken (i.e. if one team scores and the opposing doesn't, the game is over). The goalie for the shootout must be the goalie that finished the game. The goalkeeper must stand with both feet on his/her own goal line between the goalposts, without moving off the goal line (they may move sideways on the goal line) until the ball has been kicked forward.

5. Substitutions:

Substitutions for any player but the goalie can happen at any time, but the player must be on the sideline before the new player enters the field. Players must tag their teammate on the sideline beside the player's bench before entering the field (no running up and down the sideline to sub in is permitted). If a team has more than the maximum number of players on the field, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the location of the ball on the field. Goalies can only substitute on a stoppage of play. A stoppage of play is considered as a throw-in (kick-in), corner kick, goal or goal kick.

6. Off-Sides:

There are no off-sides in 5 vs 5 Soccer.

7. Misconducts/Fouls

All players are expected to call their own fouls. If there are any concerns over un-sportsmanlike behavior, all attempts should first be made by the captains to deal with it at that time. If there is a dispute and an agreement cannot be reached, don't waste time arguing the play - a kick-in from the sideline will be awarded to the team last having possession of the ball.

If a player breaks a rule or commits a foul, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the location of the foul. All free kicks are indirect. The player taking the free kick may not touch the ball again until another player has touched it. Opposing players must be 7 paces away from all free kicks. For an indirect free kick, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and all opposing players must be at least 7 paces away from the kicker. The exception is when the ball is being kicked from a point closer than 7 paces from the goal. In this case the defending player may stand on their goal line. The kicker must not touch the ball again until another player has touched it. A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick.

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offenses:

a. Plays in a dangerous manner (i.e. charging, checking or pushing an opponent)

b. Impedes the progress of an opponent (i.e. tripping, kicking or holding an opponent)

c. Slide tackling

d. High kicking (dangerous kick)

e. Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball

f. Handball: A handball infraction occurs when the ball hits a player's arm from the ELBOW down (as opposed to the shoulder). A handball does not need to be called if an opponent is the next player to touch the ball, but does need to be called if it goes to yourself or a teammate. Exceptions: Players may use their arms to block the ball from hitting their groin area and women can also use their arms to block the ball from hitting their chest. This rule will reduce the number of stoppages in play. Please don't abuse this rule.

8. Slide Tackles:

Slide tackling is not allowed under any circumstances, even if contact is made with the ball first. As well, no players (with the exception of the goalie) can slide to block a shot or pass at any time.

9. Throw-Ins/Kick-Ins:

Instead of a throw-in, a kick-in is awarded when the entire ball passes over the sideline, either on the ground or in the air. It is taken from the point where it crossed the sideline by the team who did not touch the ball last, placing it out of bounds. The player taking the kick-in must bring the ball to a complete stop before kicking the ball. The kicker must not touch the ball a second time before it has been touched by another player, otherwise an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. The defending team must stand at least ten feet way from the ball until it goes into play. The kick in must be a pass and not a shot on net. A teammate must touch the ball before a goal can be scored. A kick-in may be kicked back to the goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper is NOT allowed to pick up the ball.

(g) Persistent use of extremely abusive language or behavior toward a Game

Official;

(h) Bodily contact with a Game Official in dissent.

A red card results in ejection of the game and a minimum of 1 game suspension for the following game. Tournament director can increase suspension at his discretion. He also has the authority to suspend a player for duration of the tournament.

10. Goal Kicks:

A goal kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line (end line) and was last touched by the team attacking the goal (offense). The goal kick can be taken by the goalkeeper or any defending team member on the side of the net, 5 paces from the goal line. All players (except the goalkeeper) must be outside the goal box. The person kicking the ball cannot touch the ball a second time before it has touched another player outside the goal box, otherwise an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team at the place where the infraction happened.

A corner kick is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by the team defending the goal (defense). The corner kick is taken from the corner on the side that the ball went out of bounds. The ball is in play the moment it has been kicked. If the person taking the corner kick touches the ball a second time before another player touches it, an indirect free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team. A goal CAN be scored directly from a corner kick.

12. Penalty Kicks:

The ball is placed on the penalty line as marked on the field or be referee. The players other than the kicker and the goalkeeper must remain behind the center line until the ball is kicked.

13. Goal Keeper:

Goalkeepers can touch the ball with their hands in the goal box area only. Goalkeepers are not allowed to pick up the ball with their hands when a teammate intentionally passes the ball back to them. If this happens, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the edge of the goal box. If a goalkeeper picks up the ball outside of the goal box, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the place of infraction. The goalkeeper has 5 seconds to release the ball from their hands after they have caught it. The goalkeeper must not touch the ball again after their initial release before another player has touched it, otherwise an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.